For the most part, Amphora portrait vases are an enigma. No company records have surfaced to tell us what the names of the vases are and who, if anybody in particular, is being depicted. Many collectors believe this lady is a female Samurai. Thus, she is called the Eastern Warrior in Monsters & Maidens: The Collector's Edition by Dr. Byron Vreeland.

You can watch a dramatic video of Amphora Art Nouveau pottery on YouTube by searching for “Amphora Pottery.” Also, see more Amphora at www.facebook.com/Amphora.Pottery.

Comments

Budek, 3 years agoWhat a thing of beauty, and fantasy! I look forward to seeing more Amphora pieces.
Thanks for posting it.
Tony.

mtowns, 3 years agoI'm here trying to learn, so could anyone please explain me why this is art nouveau and not Art Deco? I find this piece too... geometrical and symetric to be nouveau...

vetraio50, 3 years agoTime period.
Deco was thirty years after this vase.
The term "art deco" was first used widely in 1926, after an exhibition in Paris, 'Les Années 25' sub-titled Art Deco, celebrating the 1925 Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes (International Exhibition of Modern Decorative and Industrial Arts) that was the culmination of style moderne in Paris. (Wikipedia)

Art Nouveau refers to a period from 1890 - 1910. It became an international movement and is known by different names in different countries. Jugendstil, lo stile Liberty, Modern etc.. Samuel Bing had a store in Paris that sold this new style called Maison de l'Art Nouveau. The name stuck. He sold stuff that had reference to Japanese art and "Naturalism". The geometry/the symmetry that you see here come from Japanese bronzes. The detail, colours, gold you'll find in Meiji pottery that we call Satsuma. Check out some of the other pieces that Amphora Pottery has here on CW and you'll see other similar examples. Remember too that Art Nouveau is international and these reflect a Austrian version of the 'new art'.
Much of what we think of as art nouveau is a French version. But don't forget Spain and Gaudi, Trieste in Italy, Munich and Vienna, Budapest and Moscow. Each has a different approach to the new art.
The new art then morphed again after the Paris Exhibition in 1925. Deco is as complex as Nouveau. French Deco is different to German, British and US Deco, Dutch deco is a favourite of mine that is often overlooked. There's even more to discover when you go to South America! Even New Zealand and Australia too!

AmphoraPottery, 3 years agoThank you for answering that so well, vetraio.